b'5 TIPS COVID-19 HAS BEENthrowing a wrench in everyones plans for over a year now. Potentially the biggest problem weve faced as a global industry were the stay-at-home orderswhenever possible, people across the globe were asked to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, that extended to business as well.And as most people have figured out more than a year laterWorking from home is difficult! There are plenty of distractions, ranging from noisy pets to excitable children to that evergrowing pile of housework. So how is it that people are able to FOR DEALINGwork from home full-time? Seed World chatted with two experts who are old hands at working from home now to discuss what their top tips are for making their work as productive as possible. WITH WORKINGSet a schedule and stick with it 1.Even though Ive had a home office for 13 years, FROM HOME COVID-19 has still changed the game, says Todd Martin, CEO of the Independent Professional Seed Association based in Fayetteville, Ark. Previously, I was out visit-ing customers every day, or I could head out and grab a coffee when I needed to get out of the office. Now, Ive had to set up a Experts share tips theyve learned fromregimented schedule of working in the office.working at home full-time.Alex Martin Martin says he makes sure this schedule looks the same every morningfrom getting up at the same time, to putting on work clothes, to taking lunch at noon and closing up shop by 5 p.m. If I dont make a schedule, I drive myself bonkers, he says. Ill get really deep into work, skip lunch and forget to drink water. By the time my wife comes home from teaching, I havent seen anyone, I havent eaten and I havent taken any breaks. Michelle Klieger, president of Stratagerm Consulting based out of Natick, Mass., agrees: Figure out a schedule that works for you. Im a morning person, so I try to do all the hard things in the morning. Then, I schedule more calls in the afternoon, because this works best with my energy level.Create a designated workspace2.Many people will say get a desk, Klieger says. I didnt for over a year, because I wasnt sure if I was going to work remotely long-term, and I didnt want to invest in a desk until I was sure. However, even without a desk, I still had a place of my own to work.This environment needs to be a place where work gets done and distractions can be minimized. If you have the ability to make a dedicated office space, you should do it, Martin says. If you bring anything that isnt work into that space, such as online shopping or even video games, it tends to be easier to get distracted. Martin says for this workspace, its imperative to draw the line of whats work, and whats home life. That way, its a bit easier to minimize distractions.78/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2021'